Rob is a Realtor with Keller Williams Santa Monica, specializing in representing buyers and selllers of property within the City of Los Angeles and the great state of California. CalDRE# 01501493. Broker CalDRE#01499010

Saturday, November 26, 2005

George W Bush the 43rd President of the USA is a lot smarter than most people believe. He was a figher pilot, that takes some brainpower. He received a MBA from Harvard, that takes some intelligence. He was Governor of Texas 4 times, that requires some smartness. He speaks fluent Spanish, that requires a some concentration and memory power. HE IS the President of the USA for the second term. A stupid person would have given up long ago......

I have had the priviledge of doing business with Frank Nuovo who is Nokia's chief designer. Nokia have just released the Nokia 8801 here in the USA, and it looks like the telephone to have. I just reluctantly got the Motorola Razor, which I must say I have been happy with so far, so I guess I will wait a month or 3 before I spash out on this cool new Nokia. What do you think?Nice

Look here The lease on my 2004 BMW 325i is up in February. I have done just over 12,000 miles in her, and was contracted for 24,000 so someone is going to get a good car later. Anyway, yesterday I thought that it was time for me to drive the 2006 BMW 325i. My current car is the E46, and the new car is the E90, therefore the 06 is a new model. The 2006 325i is powered by a 3.0 inline 6 cylinder engine putting out 215hp. The E46 is a 2.5 inline six putting out 183 HP. The new car does feel faster as it should, it is more economical and the lease would not be too much more than my current vehicle. BUT... I really want the 330i which has 255 HP and plenty of great standard options. Problem is, is that being part Scottish, I don't want to pay the extra for the 330i, so it really is down to chosing the right options for the 325i. I guess that there could be worse things to do.

According to foxnews, birthright citizenship is the right in which babies born in the United States, even to parents in the country illegally, automatically become American citizens.

Critics call them anchor babies, and say the laws should be changed to prevent automatic citizenship that could, in the end, reward illegal immigrants. You have to be a citizen and 18 years old to sponser a family member into the USA. This means that the child or children would be entitled to live and work in the USA, but the parents are still illegal till sponsered in by the child. This is going to change.

"By granting the child citizenship, that child then is able, down the road, as he becomes an adult, to legally make the parents citizens of this country as well," said Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga.

Now, a bill sponsored by Deal is gaining support in Congress. It would deny automatic citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrants. A good call I think... there is a lot of illegal people here, and it has always been a way around immigrating the right way by having a sneeky child in America.

"The idea that somebody could come here, five minutes later give birth and have a brand new United States citizen is simply something that most people in their gut feel is wrong," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman at the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

"It would be just wrong for us to deny such a basic right to just this population," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA.

Critics of the plan also warn that denying birthright citizenship to illegal immigrants could result in a divided culture such as the one that was demonstrated so vividly in the recent wave of arsons and vandalism in France....... BUT these people are illegal...... They have NO rights. They should go home to their country.

The 14th Amendment states, in part, that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the U.S." Backers of birthright policy say changing the way that clause is interpreted would be unconstitutional and un-American.

"It goes against a tradition of really integrating immigrants into our society in order to unify us as a nation, and what it actually does, it further marginalizes a whole community," Salas said.

Deal says supporters are missing the meaning of the phrase "subject to the jurisdiction thereof," which he argues excludes anyone in the United States in violation of the law — like illegal immigrants.

"If you look at the original debate of that amendment in the Congress, it was obviously not intended to give carte blanche birthright citizenship to anyone who happened to be born on American soil," Deal said.

Provisions to drop automatic citizenship are also part of several other immigration reform plans circulating on Capitol Hill, and the idea is gaining public support. A recent poll shows 49 percent of Americans oppose automatic citizenship for everyone born on U.S. soil with only 41 percent in favor.

I was not born here, but I am here legally, therfore if I was to father a child in this country, it currently is and still would be the childs right to have US citizenship.

Friday, November 25, 2005

Rodney Hide MP for Epsom has got a new ride. A brilliantly sign written Smart Car. Now this car is going to attract attention, as it did when he gave me a ride up Parnell Rise in it on November 11th. The car is going to appeal to the Greens, as it is very fuel efficient, and it might just remind the previous MP for Epsom that it is time to eat humble pie, and conceed defeat. The car is surprisingly spacious, and is rather peppy, so keep an eye out for the Boss driving the Smart through the Epsom Electorate soon.Way to go Rodney.

Although there is no correlation between this article in the Herald today Paritai P Lab and my old humble abode above, I thought that I would share a few stories about my year and 1/2 at #3 Paritai Drive, Orakei.

The house was owned by a Chinese family from HK. The husband spent most of his time out of NZ, and his wife was in control of the properties they owned in NZ.

Daniel F King, who was trying to give the P.M a run for her money as the ACT candidate in Mt Albert, and I decided that it was a good idea to get a flat together (separate rooms before you ask), as we got on well and both were (are) very keen ACT supporters. We figured that we could come up with a plan to have ACT as the second largest party in NZ, and that would start with Daniel taking Mt Albert by storm.... HA.

Daniel wanted to spend up large, or at least look like it, so we decided to target Paritai Drive. We went to visit Mr John Boscawen who lived on the Drive, and Daniel bluntly asked where we could move too in the area. John suggested that that # 3 was available and he informed us as to where the owner lived.

We rushed home and got dressed up. I picked up a rental agreement from my office, and we went directly to the owners place.......... Before long we had viewed the house which had 6 rooms, a swimming pool, and views to DIE for. We struck up a fair deal with the owner, and her translator who was there as a back up. She wanted $800 per week, but happily shook and signed on $750 per week if we took if for a year and paid the deposit right away. I asked that we were allowed a cat, and the right for another year renewal, and it was signed off. We were to move in in two weeks............

The next morning at 6am the lady owner called me and said that it was not a deal unless we agreed to pay $800 p.w. I told her that we had a deal and it was binding. She then started getting mad. *Let me note that the house was on the rental market for a long time, and she was delighted that we wanted to rent that place the day before... it was a DUMP of a house but acceptable for a group of bachelors*.

I told Daniel that we had some trouble on the horizon, and was concerned that she may not give us the keys in 2 weeks time.... I called the tenancy tribunal and asked if we had done anything wrong..... They said we had a binding agreement and it seemed fair, so I stuck to my guns. I would get a call from the owner every second day and they got weirder and weirder..... I was getting more concerned.

The HAPPY day arrived, Daniel and I were going to be big shots with a Paritai address and neighbours like Mr Kirkpatrick, The Hujlich's, Mrs Gibbs, The Staisny's and some guy with a Lamborghini next door. Problem was is when we arrived to inspect the property and get the key, the front gate was locked...... (It had not been locked for about 5 years prior). This is when all the fun began......

Dan and I went to the owners place, and I knocked on the door. It opened and the rental agreement was pushed out side of the door with the figures changed.... to $800. We pushed them back in politely and said that we were here for the keys. The door was slammed. We knocked again....... Door opened, bottle of champange was waived out of the front door... For us when we agreed to pay $800..... We said NO to champagne. Door slammed. Knocked again and this time I jokingly said to Daniel that this was about the time that I expected a shotgun blast through the door. Daniel took note and stood behind me.

The bloody door swung opened only to be stopped by the chain catch.... The owner was waiving a meat cleaver at us wildly and madly. We both instantly decided to RETREAT. Daniel nearly leaped a 9 ft fence in a single bound, and I made it to the car quicker than the neighbor could have in his Lamborghini. It was back to the drawing board.

Unfortunately we had to lay a complaint with the local police. We were legally entitled to live in the house and the owner was in the wrong. The police visited her and the next day the front gates were unlocked after she rang to apologise. We collected the keys and were delighted to see the owner had had a change of heart and left a nice note saying "Everything is beautiful, do not worry, good lucky!" along with the champagne. Phew, best we get a dead lock installed........... Gary Probsting moved in as well, and it was down to getting the place filled up so as it didn't bankrupt us.......

Thursday, November 24, 2005

My buddy and fellow blogger Aaron "Pablo" Bhatnagar has got himself a weekly radio gig. It is at 6:50am every Friday morning on Radio Pacific 1476am with no other than former Mayor, and next Mayor of Auckland Mr John Banks. Pablo is heading up... "A bloggers perspective on the week in politics". Congrats Pablo....... Maybe this will open up the door for a career in politics and radio?

It looks like the Iranians are getting themselves in hot water with their persistance in making a nuclear warhead. Now I think I'd prefer to moonlight as a mailman in Iraq rather than have the Iranians get their hands on anything more than a double happy.

Nothing like a paranoid trigger happy country that really does not like or care for the west.

I am predicting that the next stop for the UN forces could well be Tehran. Now that would certainly start WW3 so hopefully the authorities in Iran take serious note to what the EU, US and UN are saying.

So we went out last night and purchased a 23 Pound turkey. It says that it takes 5 1/4 hours to cook, but I am expecting it will take a little longer according to relatives and friends in the know. It has been in for 1 hour and 15 minutes, so I guess 5 hours to go....

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

This is odd. How could anyone eat a 10lb turkey in 12 minutes without feeling ILL? According to CNN Sonya can do it...........

A day before millions of Americans sit down to eat traditional Thanksgiving dinners, a Virginia woman grabbed the world turkey-eating title on Wednesday by gobbling down a whole roast bird in 12 minutes. Unbelievable

Sonya Thomas, 37, who weighs just 105 pounds (47.5 kg), beat seven men in the annual Thanksgiving Invitational: a race to eat a 10-pound (4.5-kg) turkey. She must have fasted for a week....

The smallest in the field, Thomas put her victory down to "swallowing fast."

"It was very dry and the skin was very dry," said Thomas, holding her trophy, a roasting pan, over her head. "I just tried to eat fast."

Venerated in competitive eating circles as "The Black Widow", the Alexandria, Virginia woman said she trained for the event, held at a delicatessen in New York, by chewing gum to get her jaw in top form.

She said she plans to eat turkey again on Thursday, but much more slowly so that she can taste every bite. Maybe she should get fish and chips instead.

Her victory was no surprise. She is ranked as the No. 2 competitive eater in the world, behind Japan's Takeru Kobayashi, according to the International Federation of Competitive Eating, which sponsored the turkey-eating event.

I am very happy to hear that I can log into Kiwi FM from the good old USA and listen to my favorite tunes from NZ. Previously it was only available in NZ which I thought was silly, as I was missing out. So if you are overseas and you want to hear Kiwi sounds log in......on my links......

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

I just got back to the City of Angels. I flew from LA on Sunday, and landed at Reno Nevada. Got a rental car at Reno, and drove to Squaw Valley @ Lake Tahoe, California. The house in Squaw is spectacular, and I was up there to try and get it all finished for when the CEO and his family come up for Christmas. It was a bit of a rigmarole, and I still have more work to do, so I will be back next week.

Anyways I sampled the large hot tub last night, and nearly got the shock of my life when I thought a Bear was coming to visit me, it turned out to be a false alarm, but my heart was pumping fast.

The temperature there was 26 F today which is -3.5C. The funny thing is that there was no precipitation, so it was absolutely beautiful. This time last year they had 6 feet of snow on the ground. Nothing to date this year. I expect to see some next week when I am back though.

I drove back to Reno this afternoon, the plane was slightly delayed, but managed to make it to San Francisco for a quick cup of clam chowder and some famous sour dough bread before hopping on the 757 for LAX. I have not been to San Fran since I was 18, so it was great to see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge out of the plane window.

Now I am back in LA, so it is time to do some more work and enjoy Thanksgiving which is on the 24th this year.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

For those of you in Auckland, Ted Brown is having a Gig at the Gin Room, which is upstairs at the Queens Ferry in Vulcan Lane. This is on Wednesday 23rd of November. Tickets will be at the door. You may know Ted as Greg Johnsons sidekick here in USA and NZ. Ted has his own style of music and it is brilliant, so support the Kiwi's and go and watch Ted play.

Went to another party last night in Hollywood. It was interesting to see that there were some playboy models there and one of them was moonlighting as "The worlds best looking DJ". Well she was rather good looking, and probably had the ability to turn the record player on and flip sides, but I didn't hear a lot of mixes. I was disappointed that she was only on for 20 minutes, as it was not enough time for me to get the jist of her skills. Have to give it to her though, I was at the party with DJ-VMO, and she got wind of it and became nervous. We all went up afterwards and congratulated her on a good show. For a blonde she is very cute.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Went to a exclusive party last night at a club called Ivar. It was a invite only type situation, complete with red carpet, photographers, and complimentary beverages. I was extremely surprised to see that they were serving 42 Below feijoa and passionfruit vodka.

After the Ivar, we went to the Rok Bar on Las Palmas. It was another private party for the producer of the Howards Stern show. We were interviewed on camera upon arrival. I hope I was photogenic. The Rok bar did not have 42 Below, but to my surprise it has Hoegarrden Beer on tap. That is EXTREMELY rare in USA, so I had to have at least one. The music was really cool, in fact it reminded me of JD's nightclub in Auckland. They even played My Sharona by the Knack...... Ahh the memories.

Friday, November 18, 2005

It is wonderful to be back in Los Angeles. The weather is beautiful, and it is even a lot warmer than NZ. It was great to see everyone in NZ and I will look forwards to posibly popping down for New Years 2007.... Time will tell.

I am off again to Tahoe ( on business ) on Sunday. This way I have enough time to go to a party tonight in Hollywood, and then pack for a 2 day jaunt to Tahoe the following day. I am thinking that there may even be some snow...YEE HAAA.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

I am delighted to see that Boeing is to produce the 747 Advanced, or 747-800 as she will be known. It was mandatory for Boeing to update the magnificent 747-400, or else Airbus would be stealing all the limelight and sales with the new A380.

The 747-800 is going to be a massive upgrade on the current 400 version, and it will use composite materials, more efficient engines, and it will be bigger. Check the Boeing site out...

Today is my last day in Auckland. I am not sure when I will be back next, althought I have a hunch it may be Christmas next year? I have had a great time catching up with everyone. I certainly will sleep well when I get back to LA, as I have been on the go the whole time. 12 days was just enough time to do everything I needed to do.

Pablo, Pete, Dion, Alan, Gary, DJ, Hamish, Dave, Snapper and Timmy B were in full effect last night at Denim Bar. It really is a cool place on Parnell Rise, so if you haven't been there do it, you'll have fun.

I am off to buy a whole lot of Kiwiana to put in my 1980's suitcase and take back to USA for slow consumption. I am thinking that this will be my list.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Having lived in Canada for a few years, I must say I love the place, but the politics and political correctness of Canada is out of control. It now seems that just after a recent election were Jean Cretchien and the liberal party won AGAIN, and handed power over to the new Prime Minister Paul Martin after Jean retired, there is prospects of another election very soon...... This from canoe.ca......

A defiant Liberal government rejected opposition demands for a February election setting the stage for a campaign over the Christmas holidays.

"A lot will be lost to serve the opposition's demands," Tony Valeri, the Liberal House leader in the Commons, predicted Sunday.

"Families will be interrupted by candidates campaigning on their doorsteps through the Christmas holiday season."

The comments came after the three opposition party leaders, in a newly forged strategic alliance, gave Prime Minister Paul Martin two unpalatable choices:

Agree to call an election on his own in the first week of January face a non-confidence motion that would topple his government before the end of November.

The first option would see voters cast their ballots in mid-February. But it would also see Justice John Gomery deliver his second report on the federal sponsorship scandal in mid-campaign.

The second option would launch a campaign that overlaps the Christmas-New Year festive season, although the actual voting day would be Jan. 9.

I will be in Canada for Christmas, so it should be extra interesting.....

Yesterday I went fishing in the Auckland Harbour with Paul "Moo" Bartley, Riaz "Traka" Khan and Greg "The Muss" Sillitoe. It was a pity that Darren "Spoodles" Benett couldn't make it. I got some good photo's which I will post when I get back to LA. Paul caught a shark, and so did Greg, although Greg's got away. Riaz caught the only keeper, a snapper, plus 2 parrot fish, and I managed to hook one or two but nothing to brag about.Got sunburnt again even thought I had hat, jacket, sunglasses and sunblock. Very weary of the Kiwi sun now. Had a great day though.

Friday, November 11, 2005

It was great for me to catch up with a lot of my old and good friends last night in Parnell, some of which I had not seen for 5 years or more. The folks at Denim Bar put on a good show and the bar tab lasted for a good portion of the night. I must say with the closing hours of bars in LA at 130am, I am feeling rather tired today as I was out till 5am....... I had a great time though.. Thanks to everyone for showing up.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

According to Fox news, the democrats won governerships in New Jersey and Virginia in off-year elections this week, while voters in California voted against ballot initiatives supported by GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not too good for Arnoold, as his popularity seems to be tied into that of the President. Both are not polling to well at this stage. Arnold has said that he will put his hand up for the elections for California Governor next year, so I hope he manages to pull finger and get the % up.

Arnold is a great Governor in my opinion and has stuck to his plan of cutting the crap in Sacramento. It seems that with the way the propositions were played over tv advertisements in California, everyone was confused. It really boiled down to not what is good for California, but what is anti Bush. Anti Bush would be the Democrats. With California being full of Democrats, the propositions failed. Arnold is an actor, as was Ronald Reagan, and he will be able to overcome this.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

I have been busy catching up with friends and family. I have lost track of what day it is. Looking forwards to catching up with everybody on Friday in Parnell. It should be a great event. Have to go BACK to the dentist on monday, fishing on sunday, relaxing on saturday, and tonight I am catching up with Pablo, and his lovely wife for dinner in Remuera. Hopefully we wont get into trouble...

Saturday, November 05, 2005

I am finally back in NZ, and after a lack of sleep on the plane I managed to get myself together and get sunburnt within 10 minutes of sitting in Mission Bay with Roofie.Anyways, after a day of acclimitising, it was time to go to the Aotea Centre and watch Gregory and Teddy Bear perform magnificantly with a 72 piece band. The show was a great success and it was good to see lots of old friends there.It would be good if they released a live recording of the show....

Thursday, November 03, 2005

According to the NZ Herald yesterday.....Petrol prices may have finally been falling around the country but a rural South Island service station undercut all the opposition late last month, reducing its price to just 14.9 cents a litre, $1.34 a litre below the standard price at the time.

Unfortunately for motorists who cashed in on the bargain price, it was all a big mistake........... Well too bad for the service station. It was priced at 14.9 cents a liter and the pump was working and on. I would think that it is perfectly legal for the buyer to take the gas at that price as long as he / she paid the 14.9 cents per litre.

The Challenge Riwaka petrol station, near Motueka, inadvertently slashed its price to 14.9 cents a litre after a staff member set the decimal point in the wrong place on the overnight self-service Eftpos pump on October 21 and 22......... So sack the employee for negligence, or something. Use your error and emmissions insurance and make a claim.

Challenge placed an advertisement in a newspaper today asking those who benefited from the blunder to come forward and pay the difference............ Why, they made a mistake.

Anyone who hasn't done so by Sunday can expect to have their Eftpos details handed over to Motueka police................. Now that is darn right sneaky. If they made the mistake and someone filled up then they will have to deal with it. There may well be people out there that didn't even realise that they purchased the fuel for that price.

Challenge owner-manager Jeff Roger said this morning no-one had owned up yet. "We're upset, really. Some people have got the fuel and just come back several times knowing the machine is wrong."........... How did the buyer not know that it was some sort of promotion?

The staff member involved had made a honest mistake and was not in trouble, he said.......... Well he or she should be in trouble. I'd be mighty pissed off if I was traveling and happened to fill up at the station on route. Imagine getting to your final destination and having the police accusing you of theft. I don't think that people in their wildest thoughts would have expected to get fuel for 14.9 cents per litre.

Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews of Motueka police confirmed there were 50 Eftpos transactions on the self-service pump over the two nights.

"Challenge has offered these people an amnesty until Sunday night.

"Come Monday morning we'll be following up on theft complaints and then we'll be tracking down the people who have made the transactions.

"In some cases, there has been a transaction of 30 or 40 litres of fuel and a short time later 100 litres of fuel to that same Eftpos card.

"So we are looking at theft or using a document to obtain a pecuniary advantage -- there are penalties for that," he said.

"They will know that they've purchased petrol at that price. You could fill your car for $7, so they will know.'.................. Yea... So you fill up for $7 and realise that the charge is 14.9 cents per litre.... What do you do, put it back in the pump. That is impossible. The gas station made a mistake and should pay for it. If people who live locally volunteer to pay the extra because they filled up at teh low rate, then good Kharma for them, but otherwise...TUFF

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

I am off to NZ today. I am expecting to have some nice weather and to get the opportunity to do a spot of fishing. I am concerned that the boat might sink again like last time, but that is a different story and I don't really have the time.

I hope that by the time I am there Aaron (Pablo) has had the opportunity to update kiwicarlovers.blogspot.com , but only time will tell.

I am especially looking foward to seeing everyone, as well as eating a couple of steak and cheese pies, and having the opportunity to make some small explosions with fireworks on Guy Falkes evening after the Greg Johnson show, which is November 5th.

I am interested in following how the US press cover the tour of the USA of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. On fox news they seem to be putting a lot of coverage on air. I am not sure what The President and the Prince would be talking about over their private lunch, but it is expected that Prince Charles is going to push environmental issues. I am sure that George would prefer to discuss the war on terrorism, or baseball, but I guess only they will know......

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Gregory Triple Johnson is playing a gig with Ted Brown at the Aotea Centre in Auckland this coming Saturday the 5th. I mentioned this before, but they will be playing with the Auckland Philharmonia and it will be a great and unique show. Tickets are selling fast, but if you have not got yours yet, go to ticketec and get some, or click here: Greg Johnson tickets I will be there......

I have been helping in the set up of a business in which Nick Wood has masterminded over the last couple of years. It is due to be launched soon, and I will release details when we are ready to go.

Also involved with the business amongst others, is Stefan Johansson. He is an ex Formula 1 driver for the likes of McLaren and Ferrari just to name two.

The reason for me mentioning this is that he will be racing in the Grand Prix Masters series against the likes of Nigel Mansell, Alan Prost, Alan Jones, Rene Arnoux, Emerson Fittipaldi and more. I wish Stefan all the best, and I expect to see him on the podium soon. Keep an eye on Stefan Johansson.

In reading the Grand Prix Masters website, I am excited to see that after having announced his retirement at the 2001 U.S. Grand Prix, legendary TV commentator Murray Walker today returns to the commentary box with new racing series Grand Prix Masters. The fan's favourite is gearing up again to say "Go, Go, Go!" when the inaugural Altech Grand Prix Masters South Africa race is launched in Kyalami on 11th - 13th November 2005.

'The voice' as he is affectionately known is instantly familiar to millions of viewers around the world and during a historic gathering of Grand Prix Masters drivers at Silverstone today, Murray was emotionally re-acquainted with many of the racers who he so famously commented on during his 53-year reign as the people's favourite. Stefan Johansson, Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ricardo Patrese, Derek Warwick, Andrea de Cesaris, and Patrick Tambay were amongst some of the great names who participated in the two-test session at Silverstone ahead of the inaugural race in two weeks time.

This is going to be a bloody great series. I hope that Speed TV in USA and TVNZ, or SKY, or Canwest in NZ pick it up. The racing will be spectacular with all of these marvellous ex F1 drivers hitting the track in virtually identical 600hp open wheel racing cars. I think that it will give all of us F1 fans a chance to watch something very interesting after F1 is finished for the year, and even if it is run simultaneously. Grand Prix Masters

I had lunch at the King Head in Santa Monica with fellow Kiwi friends Mat and Nadine. We had the specialty bangers and mash. I particularly like the old English pub meals, and for desert we were all very excited to have rhubarb crumble and custard. The Americans really don't know what they are missing out on.

Mat like myself has been lucky enough to just win a greencard in the greencard lottery....... Congrats.

Today in Santa Monica, it was just over 30 degrees C. Now it is the first of November and traditionally it should be cooling down by now. That is the benefit of Southern California. You know the weather is going to be good, you just hope that there is some wind too blow the smog away.